20 December 2007

Tuck...

...is doing well in his new home. Yesterday was a little stressful for him, being in a new place with mostly new faces, but he's settling in well, all things considered. He's already trying to get the cats to play with him, which is going about as well as one would expect. Which, of course, means it isn't (I'll see if I can't get a video, 'cause it's pretty damned funny). Still, Tolo actually came out of hiding today and they even touched noses briefly, so it may not be totally out of the question.

The biggest issue that we'll have to deal with, aside from the obvious medical ones, is a bit of separation anxiety. This isn't unusual for animals coming out of abuse/neglect cases. Since they've been abandoned or otherwise let down by humans in the past, they've got a very legitimate reason to fear that it will happen again. So we're starting in on the behavioral modification right away. He's still pretty much stuck to me like glue, but he's a pretty sharp one and I can see that he's already starting to figure things out.

If you're interested in knowing more about the situation he came from, I found this article & video. There's nothing too graphic in the video, but Tuck was one of the cases that led to criminal charges against the people. That he's done as well as he has is a testament to the dedication of the folks who have been working with these dogs

One More Thing

Turns out I didn't have as much of the C220 as I thought I did - or at least not where I can readily find it - so I've cast on a doggie sweater in some natural heathery lopi-style yarn from Sweden that I had in stash. I'm doing it in wide ribs with a chunky cable running along the back, which will look ever so butch.

Glad Tuck has found a good home with you all! Here's hoping the other dogs there will as well. They all look like such beautiful dogs. We got our 2nd dog at ~1 year, and we had suspiscions that the owner's man friend(s?) may not have been kind to the dog. Even a year later, she is not the steady girl that her littermate sister (zuzu) is. But she's very sweet and we love her!

I am so glad that you have Tuck. Hopefully all the others will be as lucky. I would take in one if I did not have 5 already at home. I would love to see the video of Tuck in his attempt to befriend the cats.

Anyone who runs a puppy mill or otherwise abuses an animal deserves his or her very own circle of hell. It's cruelty at its most base, because animals can't fight back.

But what in the world was wrong with the police, that they allowed themselves to be "turned away" by the owners so many times? That's like the owners of a crack house saying, "I'm SO sorry, we're just not up to having visitors right now." WTF??? I understand about the necessity of search warrants, but why did it take so long?

Anyway, good on you for giving Tuck a home. I'm looking forward to more pix and updates.

my friends here in denmark have a greek dog found in the streets and she is a beauty but very streetwise. and i love her. how weird is that a shepherd dog nurtured by an alchoholic in the streets of athens and ending up in copenhagen. she is not a dog to be around children or softies but as sweet as cherry pie when it comes to adults.good luck on bringing up this little snorer.